Updated October 1, 2012:

The Food and Drug Administration announced that the portal for the online registration process for food facilities is not available yet. FDA expects the delay to be short.

The Food and Drug Administration has confirmed the steps required to complete the online registration process for food facilities, which were expected to begin anew on October 1. IDFA encourages members to access the system and review the form before next Thursday to ensure a smooth registration.

The Food Safety Modernization Act requires U.S. food facilities to register between October 1 and December 31, 2012, to provide basic facility information to indicate the types of foods produced or held at each facility and to provide contact information. In draft guidance released last month, FDA proposed changes to the food categories, including one that will affect cheese manufacturing facilities. The new registration also requires companies to provide an assurance that they will permit FDA inspections.

FDA plans to use this information, when necessary, to provide a quick and targeted response to food-related emergencies stemming from accidental or intentional contamination or adulteration. Each facility will be required to re-register every two years.

Steps to Register

1. Access the system using your account ID and password to review and edit facility information. If you have an account ID but forgot the password, reset it online by answering your secret question. Note: the account ID is not the same as registration number.

2. If you do not know your account ID, contact FDA's Unified Registration and Listing Systems (FURLS) help desk at (800) 216-7331 or (301) 575-0156 between 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern time.

3. If you edit your facility profile before October 1, you must update it between October 1 and December 31, 2012, to respond to the changes and additions in the registration system. All previously submitted information will remain.

4. Although October 1 is the start date, FDA expects to release additional information to clarify other issues about registration, so it could start later this year. IDFA will keep members informed of any changes.

Members with questions may contact Clay Detlefsen, IDFA vice president of regulatory affairs, at cdetlefsen@idfa.org.